August 7, 2000
Texas Baptist Forum
Legal evil
___The lottery is indeed a "legal evil" (July 31). The statistics are telling. Of the 5 percent of purchasers of lottery tickets who buy 51 percent of the tickets, many are spending family resources, harming themselves, their spouses, their children and the state, whose needs are allegedly met by proceeds from these sales.
___Obviously, consumers of both state-sponsored gambling and alcohol are dominated by those addicted to these vices. If all addicted gamblers and drinkers give up their addictions,the balance of customers would not keep these evils in business.
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___There are no socially valuable aspects to gambling and drinking that equal the costs in lives, lost labor, destroyed families, human suffering and damaged children. Few who support the lottery or alcohol sales do not know that they damage or destroy 10 percent to 15 percent of all who try them. Yet they will not give up their small pleasure in these sins to alleviate this terrible suffering.
___Prohibition did not work. But it did not work because the people would not give up a very small benefit for an immeasurable good. Gambling prohibition, however, worked reasonably well until those same uncaring people decided to get rid of it. We have only begun to feel the results of that evil.
___ Clyde Fuller
___ Murphy
Terrible joke
___I feel like the butt of a terrible joke, and I would like an explanation. What was so wrong with the Baptist Faith & Message that prompted this most recent revision?
___I have strongly supported the Southern Baptist Convention, and, as a young pastor who grew up during the time of the "conservative resurgence," I have felt a great deal of satisfaction with the general direction and tone of the national convention. It is coming out of this context that I find myself so vexed and compelled to ask over and over again, "Why?"
___Were liberals threatening to overrun our convention by using a "Jesus hermeneutic" to do an end-run around "truth without any mixture of error"? Even if they were, and I believe the evidence is to the contrary, why did the SBC adopt that atrocious first sentence of the revised statement on Scripture?
___I cannot believe our leaders believe what they have written. Isn't Al Mohler supposed to be one of our nation's brightest theologians? This new statement is hardly a step up from the golden tablets and special glasses of Mormon fame. I am forced to believe that, despite all evidence to the contrary, this new wording was simply not given enough thought, and I am left with my original question, "Why?"
___ Casey Campbell
___ Gainesville
Weekly whine
___The weekly whine of moderate Baptist leaders in the pages of the Standard is quickly dulling any attention I might otherwise give them. Their anti-creedal moaning is both self-defeating and boring.
___For a group that champions the freedom of the Baptist mind, moderates willfully ignore the fact that an overwhelming majority of the 12,000 competent Baptist souls attending the most recent convention affirmed the revised Baptist Faith & Message statement. When moderates criticize the actions taken by messengers in Orlando, they also devalue the priesthood of believers assembled there.
___Such duplicity is the exact reason why Southern Baptists are embracing this more relevant and accurate expression of our identity while abandoning the tired, worn moderate dogma.
___ Bryce Greene
___ Garland
Reconcile now
___Now is the time for Texas Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to take a bold stand. By reconciling with the American Baptists, we have a unqiue opportunity to undo a mistake made 155 years ago.
___Experience on the mission field and subsequent work with American Baptists has shown me we are divided only by geography, not the basic beliefs that make us Baptist. Both the synergy of our resources and the symbolic move forward as partners into the new millennium will be powerful catalysts for a new era in Baptist life.
___Learn more about the former Northern Baptist Convention at www.abc-usa.org.
___With the recent changes to the Baptist Faith & Message, it seems time to part ways with our brothers and sisters. This is not done out of malice but of recognition that a relationship increasingly bitter can no longer focus on the work of God.
___Furthermore, I am tired of telling people I am "not that kind" of Baptist. I no longer want to be a lukewarm Southern Baptist. I do not feel that I am leaving the convention, but rather they have already left me.
___Just as Paul and Barnabas went on two separate mission trips after their disagreement, we too have to choose a path to follow. I choose the traditional, congregational Baptist faith and believe the best way to act on this belief is by fellowship and cooperation with the American Baptists.
___ Sam Templeton
___ Dallas
Re-think structure
___It seems the time has come for us Texas Baptists to re-think our organizational structure.
___In a time when the world's geographical borders are fading and missions agencies think in terms of people groups and not geography, it would be appropriate that we reorganize ourselves according to our spiritual affinity and not according to our geography.
___We can work together much more effectively when we work with people of like mind and spirit. A re-writing of the statement of our beliefs would be a good beginning. Then let all those who agree with us come and join with us in a tremendous outreach to the world wherever people need the Lord.
___Those from other state conventions who agree with us could then join us in world outreach and ministry in Jesus' name. It could become a huge movement guided by the Spirit of God for his glory and for world-wide spiritual renewal.
___ David W. King
___ Marshall
Grace missing
___For one Christian to call a "brother in Christ" an idiot, as Kenneth Carpenter said about Charles Wade (July 24), is a good example of continuing "unrighteous rhetoric."
___Maybe the time has come for us to see Christ's attitude toward "the teachers of the law and the Pharisees." He told them they neglected "justice, mercy and faithfulness." And they were the most fundamental folks around at that time.
___Where has "grace" gone?
___ Henry Adrion III
___ Hilltop Lakes
Early Baptists
___Our Baptist forefathers were not Anabaptists, as Jim Denison is quoted as stating concerning the new Baptist Faith & Message (July 24).
___Early Baptists clearly declared this distinction. The preamble to the London Baptist Confession of 1644 states, "A Confession of Faith of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists; published for the vindication of the truth and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently, both in pulpit and print, unjustly cast upon them."
___Perhaps Denison should do a little more homework before declaring what constitutes a "true Baptist" and casting aspersions on others. A little more focus on what the Bible actually says and less focus on "tradition" would also be helpful.
___When speaking of the Scriptures, Jesus said, "These are they that testify of me" (John 5:39b). That sounds a lot like the statement, "All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is himself the focus of divine revelation." Why are so many opposed to a statement on the Scriptures that is so consistent with Christ's teaching?
___I wish that those opposed to the new Baptist Faith & Message would please quit trying to pretend that it states things that it clearly does not. Above all, they should quit placing their view of Baptist tradition above what the Scriptures teach.
___ James Mann
___ Austin
TV witness
___The editorial comparing the gospel to "Survivor" (July 24) did a disservice to the professing Christian on the series.
___I was exhilarated to see a network show select a contestant who is bold for Christ. Contestant Dirk spoke the truth in love and gave a straightforward and uncompromising testimony to the participants and the television audience.
___Give Dirk a break, please.
___ Crickett Boyea Iley
___ George West
Don't preach big words
___ Is it a prophecy of Charles Wade and other moderate Baptist that the SBC is moving to a creed?
___I just read the newly adopted Baptist Faith & Message, and I do not see it as creedal,but as a confirmation of what I already believed as a Baptist. Did they not read in the committee's report that it does not have any quality of finality or infallibility? Article VI, "The Church," also starts by saying, "A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers."
___ I personally believe the Bible is the infallible written word of God and that Jesus is the Word in the flesh and that you can't have one without the other. Therefore, the statement that the Bible is "still just a book" doesn't hold water in whatever context it is meant. The word doesn't point toward truth, but rather is the truth.
___ I just hope and pray that the moderate leadership will "preach the word" as commanded in II Timothy 4:2, rather than preaching their education and big words, which are just confusing to believers like myself. Even Jesus Christ quoted written Scripture as the answer to Satan's temptations, and not educated definitions of Scripture.
___ James Ellis
___ Canton
BF&M is man's interpretation
___ Each week I read the opinions in the Baptist Standard. I wonder how many of the laypeople in both the SBC and the BGCT really understand the differences of opinion regarding the Baptist Faith & Message. I know I don't.
___ I agree with the one writer about falling asleep reading the Baptist Faith & Message. I understand the majority of what I read in the Bible, but I can't plow through the Faith & Message--man's interpretation.
___ Robert McIver
___ Garland
Colson should offer support
___ I am amazed at Chuck Colson's harsh criticism of Charles Stanley (June 26). To compare Stanley to Bill Clinton or to a pedophile is to slander a man who has given his life to serve the Lord.
___ Let's not throw stones at our own. The world will do that for us often enough. Instead, lets realize the horrible sadness and loss when a marriage fails--and not attack an already hurt man or woman.
___ I don't know the details of Stanley's marriage and divorce, but God does. Unless Colson has biblical reasons why Stanley should step down, he should try offering support to him rather than taking a shot at him.
___ Deborah Sullivan
___ Granbury
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